Carrier tracking loop lock detector

1. Apparatus for use in a receiver, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier tracking loop (CTL) for down-converting a received signal to provide a down-converted received signal;

a CTL lock detector for detecting, as a function of the down-converted received signal, whether the CTL is in a locked condition or an unlocked condition, wherein the CTL lock detector provides a lock signal representative of the locked condition or the unlocked condition; and

another lock detector for use in determining the locked condition of the CTL as a function of the lock signal and another signal from the CTL that is also representative of a locked condition of the CTL.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the CTL lock detector comprises:

an averaging filter for averaging the down-converted received signal to provide an average signal;

a signal estimator responsive to the down-converted received signal for providing an estimated signal, which is representative of an estimate of the average signal; and

a decision device for providing a lock signal as a function of the estimated signal and the average signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the decision device is a comparator that compares the estimated signal to the average signal for determining that the CTL is either in the locked condition or the unlocked condition.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the received signal is an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) VSB (Vestigial Sideband) modulation signal.

5. Apparatus for use in an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) VSB (Vestigial Sideband) receiver, the apparatus comprising:

a carrier tracking loop responsive to a received ATSC VSB signal for providing a down-converted ATSC signal; and

a carrier tracking loop lock detector for determining if the CTL is in a locked condition or an unlocked condition as a function of the down-converted ATSC signal;

wherein the carrier tracking loop lock detector comprises:

an averaging filter for averaging the down-converted ATSC signal to provide an average value of the down-converted ATSC signal;

an estimator responsive to the down-converted ATSC signal for providing an estimated value of the average value; and

a comparator for determining if the CTL is in a locked condition or an unlocked condition as a function of a comparison between the average value and the estimated value.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the carrier tracking loop lock detector provides a lock signal representative of the locked condition or the unlocked condition.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , further including another lock detector for use in determining the locked condition of the CTL as a function of the lock signal and another signal from the CTL that is also representative of a locked condition of the CTL.

8. A method for use in an ATSC (Advanced Television Systems Committee) VSB (Vestigial Sideband) receiver, the method comprising the steps of:

using a carrier tracking loop for processing a received ATSC VSB signal to provide a down-converted ATSC signal; and

determining if the CTL is in a locked condition or an unlocked condition as a function of the down-converted ATSC signal;

wherein the determining step includes the steps of:

averaging the down-converted ATSC signal to provide an average value of the down-converted ATSC signal;

estimating, from the down-convened ATSC signal, the average value; and

determining if the CTL is in a locked condition or an unlocked condition as a function of a comparison between the average value and the estimated value.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising the step of providing a lock signal representative of the locked condition or the unlocked condition.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of determining the lock condition of the CTL as a function of the lock signal and a signal from the CTL that is also representative of a locked condition of the CTL.